Still Learning

I need help getting the formatting down on the recipes. They look good, and then I click publish and they become one giant paragraph. I'll continue to work on it. Sorry it isn't reader/user friendly.

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

This recipe is about to become a staple in our house. We buy zucchini on a regular basis these days, and we almost always have a pound of ground turkey in the freezer. These were great the first time around even after we made them more "us." They reheated great for lunches and they were easy. Of course, I LOVE easy! Oh, and this was the first recipe I got to use the KitchenAid! I couldn't believe I had lived 28 years without one...and I could mix meat with it. Seriously. Oh, and I had to add to the recipe to grease or spray the muffin tin. This is only the second time I have made these, and I used Crisco. If it works, I won't try spray. However, I recommend SOMEthing. I didn't do anything the first time, and that was a MISTAKE. We ended up tossing the muffin tin after a few scrubs and a couple dishwasher cycles.

Clean-Eating Turkey Meatloaf Muffins Ingredients 1 lb. ground turkey 1 cup grated zucchini (I use a Black&Decker dicer) 1/2 cup oats (I used Bob's Red Mill) 2 egg whites 1/3 cup chopped onion 1 Tablespoon garlic powder 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper For the topping: 1/2 cup ketchup 2 Tablespoons brown sugar Directions Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients, either by hand or with a standmixer, until well combined. GREASE YOUR TIN (or you might have to throw it out like I did the first time!) Spoon equal amounts in to a 12-cup muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes. Take out and spoon ketchup mixture on top, and place back in oven for remaining 5 minutes.

Banana Bread. Nailed it.

I have never made my own banana bread, but I was in the mood to bake. Looking in the pantry, I found a box of Aldi brand baking mix. Then, I realized I had just put some bananas in the freezer "just in case." I had never done that before. So, I found a recipe using baking mix and bananas...and made my first loaf of banana bread! I even got to use a fancy-schmansy bread knife and perfect slicer! One of the amazing hand-me-downs I've have been able to acquire. :) I don't think I had enough bananas, so I will be excited to plan this out and try again! This was super easy and was moist. It was not as dense as some GF breads I've had, and not the lightest. For a GF bread, I would say it was pretty good. (I was able to use the KitchenAid mixer for the entire recipe. I also used a glass Pyrex dish for baking) 1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted butter 1 cup brown sugar, light or dark, firmly packed 3 large eggs 2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 4 1/2 medium bananas) 2 1/4 cups King Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose Baking Mix* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional 3/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional 1 tablespoon sparkling white sugar, optional *Make sure you use our gluten-free BAKING MIX — NOT our gluten-free flour. Directions 1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9" x 5" loaf pan. 2) In a large bowl, stir together the oil or melted butter and sugar. 3) Add the eggs, mixing until well blended. 4) Add the mashed banana, baking mix, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg all at once, mixing until blended. 5) Stir in the walnuts. 6) Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar, if desired. 7) Allow the batter to rest 10 minutes. 8) Bake the bread for 45 minutes, then gently lay a piece of aluminum foil across the top, to prevent over-browning. 9) Continue to bake until the top springs back and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few wet crumbs clinging to it, an additional 20 to 25 minutes. 10) Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Run a table knife around the edges, turn it out of the pan, and cool completely on a rack. Yield: 1 loaf, about 16 slices.

Introduction

I often say that I am domestically challenged, but Pinterest has really brought me out of my shell. Especially in the kitchen. With a new baby, I've found myself searching for everything from nursery room ideas to photograph poses to Christmas gift ideas and traditions. That lead me to create this blog. I jokingly said to my husband the other night... "Everything I've learned, I learned on Pinterest." And it is true. I have tried several recipes for the 2 of us on up to a group of six, and all come back with rave reviews. Well, all but the stuffed peppers, but I don't think you can blame the chef for that one. So, come along for the ride as you live vicariously through my pinboard with my blog!